We all know what shaving looks like. There’s a bloke, razor poised, and the lower half of his face is covered in a dense white lather.

That’s what shaving has looked like for ever. Well, at least since 3,000 BC, when the first shaving cream was invented.

And yet if you stop for a moment and think about it, there’s something quite illogical about this.

You wouldn’t go down into a dark cellar to search for something without switching the light on.

You wouldn’t choose to chop vegetables with your eyes shut.

You wouldn’t drive off at night without using your headlights.

You wouldn’t do any of those things, for the simple reason that seeing what you are doing is important.

You should have absolute confidence in your next step, a certainty that your actions are effective and will not lead to confusion or disaster.

That is one of the reasons why we at King of Shaves have broken with tradition and delivered low-foam shave gels that mean you can see your face while you are shaving it.

A-ha, say the traditionalists. But when it comes to shaving, you need the white stuff because when it’s gone, you know when you have shaved that part of your face.

Except, we reply, how many men really do shave each part of their face only once? Everybody we know goes over every area at least one more time so they can be absolutely sure they are treating themselves to the smoothest shave possible.

In which case, being able to see the area you are about to shave makes a lot more sense than spotting it only after the blade has passed over it.

When you drive you glance in the rear-view mirror every now and then, but most of the time you are looking through the windscreen. A close shave follows the same principle.

Our shave oils, gels and serums are all formulated to give you an amazingly close, comfortable and enjoyable shave – as well as one that is completely visible.

As we always say, we believe that shaving is an activity that needs to be done well. It should be more than a chore, it should be an experience you look forward to and savour.

We also believe it’s an activity you should be able to view clearly at every stage. Seeing really is believing.

But we’re also pretty proud of the fact that our packaging does much less harm to the environment than that of traditional manufacturers.

At King of Shaves, we’re pleased to say we support eco shaving with our environmentally-friendly packaging.

Shaving foam or gel is usually delivered in a pressurised aluminium or steel can that also features a plastic valve and overcap.

And, of course, hydrocarbon gases or compressed air are present whenever you have a pressurised delivery device.

That’s an awfully big burden to place on the environment with a lot of resources being used to produce something that lasts 30 or 40 shaves and is difficult to recycle – if it is lucky enough to make it to a recycling centre.

All of our products are packaged in plastic rather than metal. And the containers they come in are not pressurised, taking us one step closer to eco-friendly shaving.

That means we are having dramatically less impact on the environment and are consuming considerably fewer resources in manufacture.

Our packaging is all made of plastic, which means it is much more easily recyclable.

And we encourage all of our customers to ensure they dispose of that packaging in a responsible manner. From your shaving gel, to your beard oil, to your King of Shaves serum – it can all be recycled.

Perhaps you have seen the extraordinary figures about the effect of discarded plastic on our oceans.

So, while King of Shaves is really pleased to have more eco-friendly packaging that does less harm to the environment to produce, we are also asking that you dispose of it in the right way, where it can be recycled.

We’re proud of being different at King Of Shaves.

We think our products are very special. We always say that seeing is believing when it comes to shaving with our low-foaming gels, oils and serums.

And we think it is great that, with the help of our customers, we are doing our own bit to ensure the health of the planet for future generations.

Help us support eco-friendly shaving today and join our kingdom at King of Shaves.

There are just three steps to a great shave, and it will take just two minutes to read them and your reward will be one smooth and irritation-free face…

Step 1: Before

Whether you are male or female and wherever you are shaving, the general principals are the same – so let’s get started.

Forget everything you know Lots of lather and foam does not equal a great shave. It sits on top your skin and does nothing to create that all-important layer between skin and razor blade.

We recommend you choose a quality shaving gel, oil or serum and not a soap-based foam that will dry out your skin.

The number of blades on your razor doesn’t really matter either. It’s more important that they are clean, sharp and of a decent quality.

Don’t shave as soon as you get up Have breakfast first. Give your skin a chance to wake up!

Invest a little time preparing your skin Don’t use ordinary soap because it is usually very drying on the skin and, coupled with shaving, will make your skin tight and uncomfortable.

To cleanse your skin effectively and kindly, use a deep cleansing soap-free face wash and / or scrub. Thoroughly rinse off with warm water.

All this preparation will help soften and lift your bristles ready for shaving.

Step 2: During

Shave in the shower, bath or as soon as you get out of either Dry stubble can have the same tensile strength as copper wire, so the hot, steamy environment of a shower or bath will soften and prepare your bristles.

It takes three or four minutes for stubble to “wet out” properly, making it much easier to shave.

If you prefer the old water-in-a-sink method, wash your face first with plenty of hot water to ensure your facial hair is really soft.

Read the instructions on your preferred shave gel, oil or serum. These products are slightly different and work best if you use them as suggested.

Spend a little time massaging in your chosen shaving product – this will further soften and lift your bristles.

Ensure you have a clean, sharp blade and shave using short strokes It’s key to shave in the direction of your hairs’ growth. Shaving against the grain is the primary cause of razor burn, redness and rashes.

On your face, this is down your cheeks and chin and upwards on your neck. If you are at all unsure, run your finger across your stubble to see which direction the hair is growing.

Rinse the blade regularly Rinse the blade thoroughly and frequently as you shave, don’t press too hard against your skin and let the blades do the work.

It is essential to rinse to keep the blade clean and prevent clogging.

Step 3: After

Rinse thoroughly When you have finished shaving, rinse with cool water and pat dry. If using a King of Shaves Shaving Oil, you can just pat your face dry.

Apply a moisturising productProtect your skin with a moisturiser or face balm. This will leave your skin feeling smooth, supple and soft – not tight and dry. For maximum effectiveness, apply within five minutes of shaving.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” Benjamin Franklin (one of the founding fathers of the United States)

These sentiments hold true for many things in life. However if we are honest I expect we would all concede there’s been many times when we haven’t found (or perhaps more honestly “made”) the time to prepare properly.

WHY BOTHER WITH PREPARATION?

Often preparation can seem dull, boring and all too time consuming. Perhaps not even worth the effort for the better result. How many of us when in DIY mode have bought sugar soap with great intentions of washing the walls down before filling, then sanding, then dusting them, only to end up steaming straight into the tub of emulsion paint in a vain attempt to get it all over and done with as quickly as possible? And the result is simply not as good as it could have been if we had taken our time.

As with DIY, as a small investment in preparation can reap some big and sometimes unexpected benefits when you shave.

Back in our more hirsute days (when we just stopping swinging around in trees), to help protect us from the elements mother nature ensured we kept our hair nicely waterproofed with sebum. Unfortunately evolution is yet to catch up with us, so we still have waterproof stubble.

Now you probably know that wet stubble is much easier for a razor to cut, but to get the best shave you need to spend a little more time preparing your stubble than just giving it a quick splash of warm water.

OUTWITTING NATURE

To allow water to soak into the bristles (making them so much easier to cut) you need to remove the waterproof coating (the previously mentioned sebum) from your beard first. Any wash-type product such as face wash, shower gel, even a shave gel, shampoo or soap (does anyone still use soap?) will do this, but to speed up the water absorption into your bristles it’s best to use a scrub.

Closed (left) and open (right) hair cuticles

A scrub will the open the cuticles on the bristle which lets the water in to the hair shaft much faster. A scrub will also clear away a lot of the old dry skin and dirt from the skin; this means there’s a lot less to clog up the razor. So the blades will sit closer to the surface of the skin cutting the hair shaft as short as possible.

Applying a scrub in a circular motion across the entire beard will also lift the bristles up and away from the skin, which again helps ensure a closer shave with less missed hairs and reduced need for repeated strokes. It also helps stop ingrown hairs and clears out any blocked pores.

A face wash will help prepare your stubble, however for the best results we recommend a scrub formulated for daily use.

Then you just need to rinse the face scrub from your skin and you are ready to apply your favourite shave prep be that a gel, oil, cream, serum or even a foam(!) to your still wet face.

THE BENEFITS

This simple and effective pre-shave preparation routine should not take more than a minute, however it will repay you in spades as…

Your razor will feel like a hot knife through butter on your stubble.

You’ll not get unpleasant tug or pull.

You’ll get a closer shave and one with less passes (repeat strokes).

Your blades will last longer (softer bristles wear them out slower than hard bristles).

Much lower chance of ingrown hairs.

Your skin will look brighter

The longer your stubble, the bigger the potential benefit, so for less regular shavers a good pre-shave scrub is a must.

Simply put, decent pre shave preparation will get you a closer and more comfortable shave, for not a lot of extra effort.

Since the banking crisis of 2008 a lot has changed about the way we shop and how we perceive value. As a result we’ve arguably all become much more savvy / smart shoppers, always looking for the best value for money (VFM), which to most of us this is a blend of quality, service and price.

Most of us have also learnt (often the hard way) that price alone is not always the best indicator of value. Just because something is expensive it doesn’t always mean that the quality matches the price tag and, of course, cheap can sometimes, be just that, cheap!

Here at King of Shaves we know we’re not the cheapest products you can buy however we are confident we rank right up there in terms of value for money.

Less can be more

Whilst using too big a blob of product is great for manufacturers and brands in terms of product consumption, it is actually wasteful and that’s not so good for the consumer’s purse or for the environment.

How much of any product you choose to use is entirely up to you, but often we find people tend to use more than they need and that sometimes using too much product can reduce the quality of the experience, as well as impacting on VFM. For example our Shaving Oils definitely fall in the category of “less is more”!

Why do we love tubes?

Regardless of how much you choose to use each time, we think it’s important to ensure you can use every last drop of product and that the packaging allows you to do this whilst not costing the earth (in all its meanings).

That’s why King of Shaves love the simplicity of tubes. Due to their minimal weight and use of materials they are about as good as it gets for shaving gels and creams – a lot better than cans that’s for sure! Plus let’s not forget that gravity is free, so standing tubes on their caps means the product has the best chance of being at the right end of the pack… so where you need it.

Even with the free benefit of gravity, a small amount of product can end-up sticking to the inside of the tube (though we tend to overfill to offset this). A simple centrifuge would sort that out though most of us don’t have one of those lying around at home! You could create a DIY version by sticking the tube into a carrier bag and spinning it rapidly around above your head (it does actually work)…

Watch our video and use all your product

However, we think the best solution is to watch our short top tip ‘life hack’ video and learn how by simply taking the top off a tube you can ensure you don’t waste a drop of product and thus you get the very best value for money.

Years ago when I was a student a fellow house-mate first showed me this simple trick on a toothpaste tube and I’ve been doing it ever since. Today some of my friends laugh and say it’s just being tight, however to me it’s actually (like a thrifty approach to many things) more about being smart!

Pennies and pounds and all that.

Tell us about your ‘life hacks’

If you have a simple trick or thrifty ‘life hack’ then please share it with us by sending us a message, a tweet or by posting it on our Facebook page.